‘McInnes should be punished’
Clarke call to SFA to sort out McInnes
KILMARNOCK manager Steve Clarke has urged the SFA to take action against his Aberdeen counterpart Derek McInnes for branding Jordan Jones a diver. The Dons boss claimed the Northern Ireland winger had gone down ‘without contact’ as he nipped in between Shay Logan and Kari Arnason during Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final. The home
side had taken the lead at Pittodrie, but Killie striker Kris Boyd equalised from the spot to set up a replay in Ayrshire next Tuesday.
Clarke is in no doubt that referee Steven McLean was correct to award the penalty for a foul on Jones and, speaking ahead of tonight’s visit of St Johnstone, he demanded that McInnes be brought to book for his comments.
‘I thought he was out of order,’ said the Rugby Park boss. ‘I thought it was a cheap shot. I am not happy. Of course I am not happy.
‘It was a clear penalty. The referee was ten yards from the incident and saw it clearly — and there was no reaction from the two Aberdeen players involved.
‘I saw the television replays that Derek said showed there was no incident.
‘I have watched the replays. Everyone has watched the replays and the general consensus of almost everyone in the country is that it was a clear penalty.
‘Why is he allowed to come out and infer that Jordan Jones dived?
‘I don’t understand why he gets away with that. Surely the authorities have to ask him to explain himself.
‘I would like to think they should remind managers of their responsibilities when they speak to the Press after the game.
‘Most of the time, managers are responsible when they speak to the Press.
‘If you are going to make an accusation like that without evidence, then I think it is disappointing.’
In a separate matter, Clarke accused SPFL bosses of a lack of professionalism as Kilmarnock attempt to deal with a fixture logjam of the governing body’s making.
The former West Brom boss claims that being forced to cram in too many games in a short period of time before the split in April has put his players at increased risk of injury.
Furthermore, he claims the SPFL should have acted before now to rearrange postponed matches.
‘What I would say about the fixture pile-up we have is that it could have been foreseen,’ he claimed.
‘Our game that was postponed at Hamilton in December should have been played in February.
‘As soon as we lost our home fixtures against St Johnstone and Dundee due to Scottish Cup replays, that Hamilton game should have been rescheduled.
‘We offered two dates, both turned down. Now we’re in a position where we don’t have a date to play that game.
‘Maybe they should listen to people who have experience in the game and schedule fixtures accordingly. The thing is, you knew there was this possibility.
‘I also don’t understand why Hibs v Hamilton has been put into the last week before the split. Why can’t they play this week? Or next week?
‘There are questions to be asked. I think there could become an issue where we pick up injuries that could affect the shape of our season.
‘We’ll do our best to avoid that by training and preparing properly and making sure we are in really good condition.
‘We will be professional about it, but whether you can say the fixture organisers have been professional is another matter. I’ve spoken to them and given them my concerns. Now they have to do what they have to do.’